The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015, are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 23, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

Harris and Westcott, who previously collaborated on Who Has What? All About Girls' Bodies and Boys' Bodies (2011), return with another matter-of-fact and sensitive informational book, this time not about the human body and sexuality, but about human families and relationships.

Beginning with cover art introducing an interracial family comprised of a mother, father, daughter, son and pet dog, the book follows the family on an outing to the zoo, where they encounter many different kinds of families. Narrative text and speech balloons introduce diverse family constellations in a celebratory spirit of inclusivity and community. In addition to the outing to the zoo, the family also spends time at home, which includes a get-together with extended family members. The balance between the particular experience of this central cast of characters and the general narrative comments about families is executed well, and the tone remains positive and affirming even as it acknowledges that “sometimes, families have mad times. And sometimes, families have sad times.” Throughout, Westcott’s cartoonlike illustrations echo and extend the text, making a wide range of families visible and accessible to readers.

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